DID YOU READ

ADAPT THIS: “Guerillas” by Brahm Revel

With Hollywood turning more of its attention to the world of graphic novels for inspiration, I’ll cast the spotlight on a new comic book each week that has the potential to pack a theater or keep you glued to your television screens. At the end of each “Adapt This” column, you’ll also find some thoughts from the industry’s top comic creators about the books they’d like to see make the jump from page to screen.

This Week’s Book:Guerillas by Brahm Revel

The Premise: Meek, gun-shy Private John Francis Clayton is on his first tour of duty in Vietnam when his platoon is ambushed by enemy forces. Surviving out of sheer cowardice, he discovers that he’s the only survivor of the massacre, left alone in the jungle with enemies all around him. All is not lost, however, as he soon encounters the simian soldiers of an experimental squad of military-trained chimpanzees. The bizarre unit takes him under their protection as they continue to wage war against the Viet Cong, but the U.S. military is also out to recover the apes – dead or alive.

The Pitch: Created by The Venture Bros. cartoonist and storyboard artist Brahm Revel, Guerillas is a gritty take on one of America’s most controversial wars that manages to be both thought-provoking and deadly serious despite its fantastic premise. Pvt. Clayton is far from the gun-toting hero we’ve come to expect in war films, and his frightened, fish-out-of-water observations of the way human and chimp soldiers handle the war experience make the story amount to so much more than the “apes with machine guns” premise.

Given the visual accomplishments of “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” it’s easy to see the CG possibilities for something like Guerillas, in which the emotions and subtle actions of both the human and ape characters play a big role in the narrative. In order to stay safe from both the enemies and his fellow soldiers (human and chimp), Clayton needs to learn the ways of both the battlefield and the animal kingdom… or become just another one of their casualties.

Of course, that’s not to say there isn’t a hefty dose of action in the story, too. While reading Guerillas, it’s easy to envision the fast-moving, bloody battles involving the chimps and enemy soldiers unfolding on the big screen. While Revel is a talented artist, many sequences are practically begging to make the leap from page to screen, with chimps dashing, climbing, swinging, and jumping around the jungle while firing off rifles and tossing grenades, alternating between their hands and feet as they dispatch their enemies with ruthless efficiency.

Along with the tension of Clayton’s predicament and his interaction with the squad of chimps, Guerillas also features a pursuit subplot that only adds to the richness of the story. Developing parallel to Clayton’s narrative, the story also follows a group of soldiers tasked with recovering the experimental chimp unit. With each piece of information they discover on the trail of the chimps, the audience becomes more aware of the danger Clayton is in.

The Closing Argument:Guerillas could easily work as a serialized television project or a hybrid live-action/CG film. Its human and chimpanzee characters are equally compelling, and the story succeeds well beyond its simple premise. To its immense credit, Guerillas offers a brilliantly unique take on the “war is hell” story that combines the potential for impressive, jaw-dropping visuals with a fascinating story.

This Week’s Comic Creator Recommendation:Queen & Country (Oni Press)

“The book I would like to see adapted most out of my library is Greg Rucka’s excellent Queen & Country series. Already an ‘adaptation’ of a sort, based heavily on the world seen in UK series The Sandbaggers, this is a comic series that is more than the adventures of Tara Chase — this is a series where you believe in every character and feel loss when they die. Factual, moving, and filled with action, I demand a Queen & Country film or series right now.”

– Tony Lee, best-selling author of the ongoing Doctor Who comic book series at IDW Publishing, as well as From The Pages Of Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’: Harker, the graphic novel adaptation of Pride & Prejudice & Zombies, and an upcoming MacGyver series for Image Comics.

Would “Guerillas” make a good movie? Chime in below or on Facebook or Twitter.

The Best Of The Last

The end is near. In mere days Portlandia wraps up its final season, and oh what a season it’s been. Lucky for you, you can watch the entire season right now right here and on the IFC app, including this free episode courtesy of Subaru.

But now, let’s take a moment to look back at some of the new classics Fred and Carrie have so thoughtfully bestowed upon us. (We’ll be looking back through tear-blurred eyes, but you do you.)

Couples Dinner

It’s not that being single sucks, it’s that you suck if you’re single.

Cancel it!

A sketch for anyone who has cancelled more appointments than they’ve kept. Which is everyone.

Forgotten America

This one’s a “Serial” killer…everything both right and wrong about true crime podcasts.

Wedding Planners

The only bad wedding is a boring wedding.

Disaster Hut

It’s only the end of the world if your doomsday kit doesn’t include rosé.

Your Portlandia Personality Test

Carrie and Fred understand that although we have so much in common, we’re each so beautifully unique and different. To help us navigate those differences, Portlandia has found an easy and honest way to embrace our special selves in the form of a progressive new traffic system: a specific lane for every kind of driver. It’s all in honor of the show’s 8th and final season, and it’s all presented by Subaru.

Ready to find out who you really are? Match your personality to a lane and hop on the expressway to self-understanding.

Lane 10: Trucks Piled With Junk

Your junk is falling out of your trunk. Shake a tail light, people — this lane is for you.

Lane 33: Twins

You’re like a Gemini, but waaaay more pedestrian. Maybe you and a friend just wear the same outfits a lot. Who cares, it’s just twinning enough to make you feel special.

Lane 27: Broken Windows

Bad luck follows you around and everyone knows it. Your proverbial seat is always damp from proverbial rain. Is this the universe telling you to swallow your pride? Yes.

Lane 69: Filthy Cars

You’re all about convenience. Getting your car washed while you drive is a no-brainer.

Lane 43: Newly Divorced Singles

It’s been a while since you’ve driven alone, and you don’t know the rules of the road anymore. What’s too fast? What’s too slow? Are you sending the right signals? Don’t worry, the breakdown lane is nearby if you need it.

Still can’t find a lane to match your personality? Check out all the videos here. And see the final season of Portlandia this spring on IFC.

Last-Minute Holiday Gift Guide

It’s the final countdown to Christmas and thanks to IFC’s movie marathon all Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, you can revel in classic ’80s films AND find inspiration for your last-minute gifts. Here are our recommendations, if you need a head start:

Musical Instrument

Great analog entertainment substitute when you refuse to give your kid the Nintendo Switch they’ve been drooling over.

Breakfast In Bed

Any significant other or child would appreciate these Uncle Buck-approved flapjacks. Just make sure you’re not stuck on clean up duty.

Cocktail Supplies

You’ll need them to get through the holidays.

Dance Lessons

So you can learn to shake-shake-shake (unless you know ghosts willing to lend a hand).

Comfy Clothes

With all the holiday meals, there may be some…embigenning.

Get even more great inspiration all Christmas Eve and Day on IFC, and remember…